Recently I was riding one of my favorite young horses and really enjoying it. I think the horse was too. The weather was great and the horse was working exceptionally well. He is just that kind of horse. Just one of those great moments in a barrel horse trainers life. I was loping around the barrels and thinking to myself what a wonderful country we live in and how great it is to be able to pursue our passions: riding horses and barrel racing. And also, boy this is gunna be a nice horse. I also though about how sorry I feel for people that don't have some sort of passion in their lives. Intense devotion to some sort of activity in their lives.

There is nothing quite like just being around a horse. Their breathing, their movements, how they run and buck and play, how they learn, how we can take an animal that is really just a flight or fight animal and turn them into our partners that will run hard and then rate and turn three barrels. Time after time! It is truely amazing if you think about it. Just brushing them and seeing how they are made and how they can move and yet they can also be very gentle. Now tell me you have not smelled your horses breath at some time!! We are definatly a lucky bunch to be able to spend so much time with Gods great creatures.

Horses are a wonderful thing for sure. Lance and I are very lucky to be able to get up every day and not have to go far to begin our day job of working with these wonderful creatures. Growing up I had a very supportive Dad ( I still have him) who stood behind his daughter's passions for these hay burners. I think his real motive was that someone told him, "Kids into horses, don't get into trouble." Don't know who that was, but would like to thank them. My dad was never a horseman or cowboy by any stretch. But, he tried to understand my passion. He did a great job of it too. He knew this was not a passing fancy for me. Heck, it is almost an addiction. My dad always supported by passion with healthy investments of money and encouragement.

This is where my next mentor came into my life. Dixie Glick, mother of Carolyn Mendes, hauled us girls in my Dad's elcamino and two horse miley every where we wanted to go. She was patient, and still is. She really encouraged us couple of horse crazy girls. We both still barrel race and Carolyn helps run a barrel racing organization and raises her own barrel horses. Now that I look back, what did Dixie get to do for fun? I guess it was go with us to the barrel races and 4-H shows. She sometimes says to me, "did you ever imagine you would get to here doing this"? She sure did encourage us to be better horse women. And the next time you meet a 4-H leader, thank them. They deserve it. Or better yet, do something to help out their group.

Lance and I are not big time horse breeders by any means,(4 foals this year). Breeding and raising and training and then seeing our foals aka family members, go on and do good for their next family is such a great feeling. And foaling season is here with its feelings of wonder, excitement, worry and even sometimes grief, is an amazing event to say the least. If you don't believe in God, you should see a colt be born and take his first breath and then jump up and wobble within the first 30 minutes, then run. Even the ones that we do not raise, but just start (I feel this is what we do because training is a life long prosesss for a horse) go on and make their owner happy is the greatest feeling, I can't describe. Lance is an amazing horseman and has the same passion for horses that I do. My passion for horses has never waivered.

Many of you have the same passion that we do. Many of you have experienced the same support from your parents or spouse in our addition to the horse world. You are the lucky ones. We all need to look for ways to help other newbes in this wonderful sport of barrel racing. Pay it foreward is what I call it. Because of these wonderful creatures, I now have a wonderful extended family. Two legged and four legged. Even if some still think we are horse crazy. So go and share your horse passion with others.

California barrel racer Lyndee Stairs has a real knack for turning dreams into reality.

Lyndee has grown up on a horse.  At the age of three she obtained her first pony.  Lyndee and her pony Apache, dominated the local play days and junior rodeos. In the more recent past, Lyndee has concentrated on rodeos and barrel futurities.

Lyndee's dream of becoming one of an elite group of top trainers and competitors has come true.  Since 1990, Lyndee has been in the top ten in total winnings on the West Coast.

Lyndee and her husband Lance Stairs' barrel horse ranch in Hanford, California have become well known for helping others' dreams come true also. As trainers and clinicians they are always teaching the principles necessary not only to win, but to keep students performing at their best. Through their many students and customers, they have helped their dreams come true also.  Lyndee has helped some of the top open and youth competitors become champions.

Lance and Lyndee were featured speakers at EqWest, Del Mar, CA in 1999. 
More recently, Lyndee has been featured in 2006 as a guest speaker for the Barrel Talk Forum on Barrel Horse World, Turn and Burn and Winning Runs DVDs.

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